President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva attended the regional conference of UNESCO on `Literacy Challenges in the Arab States: Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches` in Qatar
Regional conference `Literacy Challenges in the Arab States: Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches` organized by UNESCO and Qatar Education Fund started on March 12 in State of Qatar.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, MP, arrived in Qatar on March 12 to attend the Conference.
First Lady of Azerbaijan was sincerely welcomed at Doha airport by spouse of Qatar`s Emir Sheikha Moza Bint Nasir al-Minsad.
In the meeting held in the same day between first ladies of two countries views were exchanged on importance of the Conference directed to elimination of illiteracy in Arab states, in particular among older generation.
Opening the Conference spouse of Qatar`s Emir Sheikha Moza Bint Nasir al-Minsad said the event is attended by persons who have big services in field of education in international level, emphasizing the spouse of Azeri President is specially distinguished among the attendees. `Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva is ophthalmologist by specialization. She is member of Azeri parliament and Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO. She has been awarded the high prize of UN for activities in this field. Next conference on education issues will be held in Baku and Mrs Aliyeva is present here as if to take the baton` spouse of Qatar`s Emir noted.
Addressing the Conference Permanent Representative of Sultanate of Omar to UNESCO Musa bin Jafar bin Hasan talked of problems in field of removal of illiteracy in Arab world.
UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura mentioned in his speech there are 850 mln juveniles in the world unable to read and write. Underlining the importance of this conference from point of solution of this problem Mr Matsuura noted the serious need for investment in field of removal of illiteracy.
Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, spouse of President of Azerbaijan, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, expressed gratitude to the spouse of Emir of Qatar for invitation to the Conference dedicated to the global problem. `All problems arise from illiteracy. It is evident that countries not using achievements of contemporary science and progressive technologies do not develop. Millions of children and teens worldwide are away from education and this is unbearable` Mrs Aliyeva underlined, noting importance of the Conference held in Qatar.
Informing the Conference participants of rapid development of economy in Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva mentioned with facts in Azerbaijan that is in the leading position in the world for speed of growth of GDP state policy is social-oriented. She talked of efficient fruits of state program performed in field of education. First Lady of Azerbaijan recalled up to 1 million people live as refugee and IDP as result of the most painful problem of Azerbaijan - aggression of Armenia to Azerbaijan, talked of actions taken by state to remove difficulties linked to this, in particular towards education of children having lost native schools. Stressing close cooperation of Azerbaijan with UNESCO and ISESCO Mrs Aliyeva said Azerbaijan possesses opportunities to be changed via these organizations into the center studying the education problems in the region.
Then, spouses of presidents of Syria and Lebanon made speech. Appeal of the spouse of US President was delivered by video. At the end of opening ceremony of the Conference a film on the illiteracy in the world was shown.
Speech of Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, spouse of Azerbaijani President, in the Conference was lively broadcasted on state TV of Qatar and Al-Jazeera TV channel.